Pop is Better Than Parasites

They drink a lot a lot a lot of pop here. I never want pop ever again. The other option is water from their tap, so I keep drinking pop. :D

This week has been another absolutely awesome week. Although my ward is very small, we have some of the best members on the planet. We have an absolutely wonderful ward. Every day we eat with a member of the ward for ¨comida,¨ which is like lunch but later in the day. They eat a lot of meals here. Haha :) We rarely have to provide this meal for ourselves because the sisters in the ward are absolutely amazing. Even more amazing when you know there are not very many sisters, so often we eat in one house more than once a month. They always have the best food too.

The people here are amazing in general. The culture is different. haha. obviously. There is a lot of respect here for others. Families live together for longer time, so grandkids have great resepect for their grandfathers and kids for their parents. Almost everyone is religious and very dedicated to waht they belive in, so there is a lot of humility as well. People really believe in God and really believe they are blessed in their lives from God. I love the difference. In general, people are more happy here and more satisfied with what they have. I love to be among these people, and I´m trying to pick up a thing or two from them.

I´m not really sure if this is in english or what it is, but I´ve been asked to share it with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54HWBZ2A73A

I hope you enjoy.

We are impatiently waiting and jumping every time the phone rings for exchanges. We recieve 10 new sister missionaries in our mission today, and we are not sure if we have changes or not. The president wants to interview each of the 38 missionaries who are showing up today before he assigns companions. It´s likely we will change, but then again not likely, so Hermana L and I are just full of anxiety.

On Valentines day I visited another area with Hermana G, our leader sister. She is a wonderful teacher, and I gained more confiedence in speaking when I was with her. Her area is much larger (assistance of 330 in her church building while my ward is about 80) and she is an amazing example to me. We ate crepes with all sorts of yummy bad for you things for the valentines day.

Hope you all are doing well, and remember--pop is better than parasites!

Hermana Hunt

One Whole Month in Chihuahua

This week marked one whole month in Chihuahua! I can´t believe it. The attached picture summarizes everything of Chihuahua. At least someone out there loves a little Hermana that´s getting fatter by the minute on all this Mexican food! Haha

This week was absolutely wonderful. We had three of our families show up to church!! We are teaching one family that is progressing crazy fast, which brings me a lot of joy because I can see their joy! It´s the family of the little boy who fell asleep in our lesson with the Book of Mormon on his face. They are reading and praying and there is a huge change in them. Their baptisimal date is set for the 15th of March. We are also teaching two other wonderful, wonderful families. It´s amazing how everything has a plan. We would not have found this family if this had not happened, or we would not have found this family if we had not been talking to this person. I know the plan God has for everyone is perfect. I know He loves us and wants us to return to live with Him more than anything else. It´s a wonderful work, missionary work.

Thanks for all the support and prayers! In all you do, remember, He has chosen you. Trust Him. He trusts you. In everything you do, do it with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. In thoroughness brings satisfaction.

Love you!

Hermana Hunt

Future Missionary L

Little oranges: these grow on the trees. super, super sour. The skin is super, super sweet. They´re like mini oranges that you eat the peel and inside together. They put salt on them too. I like them :)

white missionary one month birthday

This is what success looks like!

Effects of The Book of Mormon

We have a family we are teaching with a three year old that is very active, an eight year old, and a sister about my age that takes care of the kids. We had a lesson with them the other day, and we were talking about the feelings the sister feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. She said she feels very at peace and good in her heart. We asked her why she thought she felt that way, and she said she had found her answer that the Book of Mormon is true!!! 

I love how happy this work is. 

Funny. During the lesson, the three year old was being loud and everyone had their Books of Mormon out, so I pulled another Book of Mormon out for the three year old and helped him see the words as we were reading the chapter (2 Nephi 31. It{s a good chapter). He was sitting on my left, and everyone else on my right, so no one could see him but me. About half-way through the lesson, he fell asleep with his Book of Mormon on his face open to the picture pages!! It took everything I had not to bust up laughing in our lesson and focus!

I love the scripture in Ether 12:17 that says God shows us our weaknesses when we come unto Him. He shows us our weaknesses so we will be humble, but if we go to Him in faith, He will make weak things become strong unto us. My weaknesses in this work are definitely not just the language, and I am definitely humbled by the many things I need to improve. I love the talk by Elder Bednar on how to become a preach my gospel missionary. He says preach my gospel missionaries understand that they serve and represent Jesus Christ, are worthy, treasure up the words of eternal life, understand that the Spirit is the only true teacher, and understand that to teach is much more than just talk or converse. I am trying to make my teachings much better, along with every other aspect of missionary work. I have a long ways to go! I have felt the help of Heavenly Father as I have tried to be better.

Superbowl yesterday was an interesting day here in Mexico. I love how the Superbowl brings families and friends together, even when often there is contention between teams :) Superbowl is like Christmas here. Everyone travels from far to be with family and friends to watch it. Everyone watches it outside and barbecues "american food" hahaha

Love you all lots and hope you are doing well!

Hermana Hunt

I was labeled the fair sister by the lady who kind of does our laundry. Kind of because we pretty much do it, but have to pay her because the machines we use she tends. They{re not even hers. Things are weird here. But yeah. I am the fair sister and my comp was labeled the dark sister. Haha

We celebrated Hermana L's three year membership of the church, four months of the mission, and one month of being in Chihuhahua for me with marshmallows yesterday that we roasted over the stove. Guys. Even the MARSHMALLOWS are better here. Even the marshmallows.

these chips are so good! Even Hna L thinks they're pretty hot, but I love them. With water. Plenty of water.

Sometimes I don't know what I am eating

I had a really hard week this week as my companion has stopped talking to me because I can´t understand her. I don´t really blame her--there´s no point in talking to someone who doesn´t understand what you´re saying! It´s been hard to feel the contention and not really be able to help it though. I am working hard to learn fast and learn a lot. I am really bad at remembering things, especially vocabulary words, so I am praying a lot too that Heavenly Father will help me. 

One year of girl´s camp when I was a YCL, I prayed for two months before the week of camp that I would be able to remember all the names of the girls in my level (first year girls) because I am so bad at remembering. That year of camp, I was able to remember all of the names of the girls. I felt closer to the girls and was able to help them better because I knew all of their names. I know Heavenly Father helped me with my memory that year. I definitly would not have been able to do that alone with my crazy mind. I know He will help me again with remembering words in Spanish, I just have to learn to be patient with myself even when the world is not so patient with me. I understand way more than when I started this thing though--going from not speaking any Spanish to being able to have a full conversation in Spanish in two months is pretty amazing. I am grateful for the things I am learning, and grateful for Heavenly Father´s help with everything I do.

The work goes on though, and I am really just the hands to do His work. I don´t matter in any of this. I see that more and more. I see how people are really already prepared to receive our message, even when it´s a little choppy and may be in past tense when it should be in the present. Haha :)

This week we had the baptistm of C! His family was not very active in the church, and they are coming to church every week now! The night of his baptism, his dad gave the closing prayer and it was so special. When he recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost, I felt something very special. I love seeing the people I teach progress. 

We went to visit a recent convert to the church the other day and found that her kids were really sick! We called our ward mission leader to give a blessing for the sick, and that night was very special. Even though I couldn´t understand well what was being said, and even though I am all the way in Mexico, I felt the same spirit fill the room during the blessing that I can feel when my dad exercises his priesthood. I could feel my dad in that room, and then realized that I could feel my Heavenly Father in that room. We went back to visit yesterday and her girls are back up to 100% speed. I am grateful to have the priesthood in my life and grateful for worthy priesthood holders, no matter where they are in this world. 

I know this gospel is true. I know this is the one and only one true gospel, and the one and only true gospel can only be found in this church. I am grateful for the short time I have to serve fully and completely as a missionary, and hope that I will be able to put my full heart into this work.

Love you!

Hermana Hunt

There is no word for creepy in Spanish. This creepy thing I walk by every night. It has "real" hair and eyelashes, but no eyeballs. Super Super creepy!

Sometimes I don't know what I am eating:

Le Gusta?

Doctrine and Covenants 6:33 to the end of the chapter. Yeah. That´s all I have to say about that!

This week has been another interesting one. I am starting to understand more, and trying to still focus even when I have no idea what is going on. Haha :)

This week we were doing a service project, and one of the Hnas in the ward asked if I wanted to help too. I said no. lol I thought she asked me if I wanted a glass of water. No. As a missionary, I definitly don´t want to help. Hahaha :D

We found a lot of new families and people to teach!! I am so excited. It seems people want to know why a crazy white girl is here in Mexico, and I share with them my testimony, and they want to know more! We also have a baptism this Saturday for Hermano C. I am really excited for that. His smile is so amazing to see! I love how happy the gospel makes people, and when I am helping them to be happy, I am happy myself!! 

In contrast, it´s pretty hard when people don´t make appointments or don´t come to church. I feel so sad when they don´t! I have to remember like in this last conference, to never look back. It doesn´t matter where you serve, but how you serve, and never look back. Always have your eyes forward. There is so much ahead of us, and the past is to learn from, not to live in. I love that general conference talk and have faith that this week, the people we are teaching will do well. I see how much the gospel blesses families as well as the individuals. 

Tenga una buena semana!

Hermana Hunt

Le gusta?

Week One In Mexico

Mexico is so AWESOME! The people here are so so so nice. I love it. My companion has to be crazy patient with me because I only understand like, 30% of what people are saying. Sometimes they´re asking me questions that I am supposed to say no to, but I say yes. Like:

Is the sunlight still in your eyes?

(No it´s not)

Yes.

Do you want me to put your darks in with your whites?

(No I do not)

Yes.

Do you want more of my soup with my hair in it?

Yes.

Are you ready for me to turn off the lights?

Yes.

It´s because questions in spanish don´t start with question words like English (who, what when, etc.) so I am having a hard time discerning what is a question and what is a statement. It´s pretty funny. We´ll just say it´s been an interesting week language-wise.

The food is delicious here. We eat lunch, which is the big meal of the day, with a member family every day. You gotta watch out for hairs. They don´t cut the fat off their meat either, which gives it flavor, but it´s still gross to me. I know I will adjust. But really. It´s perfect. The food. I might just live here forever for the food and the candy and juices and fruit. Yum. I´m starting the word yum here. Instead of: the food was muy rica (everyone says that), I say: the food was muy yummy. If not anything else, they just make fun of me. Puts a smile on their faces.

I learned this week more about the Plan of Salvation. When we contact people on the street, we tell them about the wonderful plan that God has for our lives. People are very interested that we lived with Heavenly Father before coming to the earth, and that this time on Earth is a time to learn and progress. I love contacting people on the street. It´s pretty easy because they all want to know why I am here.

The streets are dusty and the air is often dirty. In the morning, I look like a gringa, but by the night time, I am so coated in dirt that I.....okay still look like a gringa, but a very dirty gringa. Haha :) I am already starting to look like a lobster. I´m trying to keep the sunscreen on, but it is very hot here. I think I might die when summer comes along, since even my companion from Mexico City says that summers are crazy hot here.

I am continuing to put my faith in God that He will help me learn this language. I love to have things of the gospel occupy my mind. It´s almost like being a kid again where I don´t have to worry about too much--just my companion and the people we teach. I love being a missionary! I already have such a love for the people here. I am grateful to have this opportunity in my life to help others. I know Christ lives!

Love you!

Hermana Hunt

My little plane down here

Chihuahua

My little apartment

You can buy a pizza here for only 115 dollars

An Address to Send Letters to

Hermana Sarah Hunt

Mexico Chihuahua Mission

Huancune 1801-B

Col. Panoramico

31110 Chihuahua, Chihuahua

Mexico

Week One in Mexico

Hey world! I am in Mexico!! It is wonderful. There is no better place to be than here. It is wonderful! And the FOOD!! Oh goodness. Everything is delicious. I might come home with a millon parasites because I love the food so much and eat everything and anything.

My compañera doesn´t speak any english. Hermana L. She´s pretty good at the shirades game! Every time she asks me to turn off a light I think she wants me to close the door, so. Yeah. Hahaha I love her a lot. She´s crazy nice. Plus she actually understands me, which is different than most of the people here--when I say something to them they just smile and nod.. ¨Do you have a family?¨ Grin....shake head up and down...look away...

I love everything here. Even the dogs that try to bite my head off and the drivers that try to smash into me, and the people on the streets who grin....shake head up and down....look away....hahaha I think in two weeks I will start to understand when words stop and when they start. Until then, I will keep amusing natives with my pronunciation of ´burrito.´

I see already how much Heavenly Father has blessed me here. I can understand a lot of what people are saying, and that is a huge blessing. I don´t even know how I would begin to do this great work without Him. I know that He has faith in me, and I try to have faith that He will help me.

I forgot to bring my cord for my camera because at the MTC you could just plug your SD card straight in. Next week, there will be pictures. I live in a tiny apartment with just one bedroom and a nice kitchen. Everything is locked at least three ways here to keep it safe. We live just a little bit away from the ¨Super,¨ which is nice. We live pretty central to our area. I´m in the city of Chihuahua in the north. PS if you want to see pictures of me with all the new missionaries in a restaurant with delicious food, you can look up my mission´s facebook page: Missión México Chihuahua. Or Missión Chihuahua México. I can´t remember which one. I´m sure it will be an interesting page. My mission president speaks very well in English, but sometimes it´s funny--probably just like I am to him in Spanish.

I´m forgetting how to spell things in English.

Today is kind of like a p-day until four, when everyone gets home. We always are out to teach at four. We have a lot of investigators and a lot of referrals right now!! I love having people to teach. This gospel is true. It´s happy! My testimony has been strenghtened of ´where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them´ as I have felt the spirit so strongly in our companionship study. We study from 8 to 12 with personal, companionship, first 12 weeks, and Spanish studies.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! I will send pictures on p-day Monday. Love you!!

Hermana Hunt

Christmas at the MTC

Christmas at the MTC was an interesting one! We had Elder Bednar come and talk to us, and his talk was absolutely AMAZING! He did a question and answer session, which I usually don't like, but his was wonderful! One question I liked was:

Q: Why do I feel so inadequate?

A: Because you have some sense of what you are called to do.

I also loved how he talked about the cleansing AND strengthening power of the atonement. He spoke of how the gospel is not just about becoming clean from sin but about BECOMING. We have so much potential if we just exercise it. Things happen one grain at a time. Precept upon precept. If you took me out of the MTC right now and put me back at home, I would live my life differently. I have learned so much here through the spirit. I am a different person already. I love how close I am coming to Heavenly Father. I know the Atonement is what is helping me to get there. I not only have the ability to feel at peace about my mistakes, but the Atonement also enables me to become stronger to face my challenges.

We had our sister district leave this week, which is weird because they came in on the same day as my district. I really wanted to go with them. We still have another week. I loved what I learned this week though!! I am trying to live my last week here like Christ lived His last week. His last week was the most important week of His life. I am trying to live my week diligently so that I have no regrets. 

One thing I learned this week made me even more grateful for Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ, we would not even be here. God's plan for us to come to earth and get bodies centers around Jesus Christ and His Atonement. God loves us so much that He would not have sent us here without a way to get us back. If Jesus Christ was not willing to atone, we wouldn't even be here. We would not have the opportunity to progress on earth. I am very grateful for my Savior, who made it possible for me to be on the earth now and made it possible for me to return to live with my Heavenly Father again. 

I am praying that my visa will get here on time for me to go to Mexico on the 6th. This is hopefully my last email to you from the states! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a have a happy new year!!!

Te quiero!

Hermana Hunt

Christmas Special

Hey everyone,

I hope you're having a Merry Christmas today. I want to share with you for Christmas how my testimony of Christ has been strengthened as I have been at the MTC. It has been strengthened so much! They say the grounds here at the MTC are sacred, and I feel that. I feel the Spirit here so strongly, and the Spirit testifies of truth, so I am learning so much! I feel the whisperings of the Spirit in my heart. Mostly it's a feeing of peace in my heart, but sometimes it comes in other ways. I feel the Spirit teach me what is right, and I do not feel it when something is wrong. I have felt the Spirit testify to me that Jesus is the Christ. That He lived! That He was born to a very special virgin mother Mary.

I have felt the love of Jesus Christ in my life. I have made mistakes before (surprise!) and have felt the guilt that comes from those mistakes. However, through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, I have felt the pure joy and enabling power that comes from His Atonement. He died for me, and because of His Atonement, I receive strength when I repent. I can see how much stronger I am in the MTC through repentance. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and how much He loves me. Without Him, I would still be lost. I would have no direction. I would have no pure joy.

I love being here at the MTC. I love having my life centered around Jesus Christ and His gospel. I have more confidence in Jesus Christ and in Heavenly Father than ever before. There have been hard times, and there have been times where I have no idea what I am supposed to say to people, member and investigator alike, but Heavenly Father knows what I am supposed to say and knows what I am supposed to do. If I turn to Him, He will help me. "Tell the missionaries: If they have more faith, they will have more success." --Gordon B Hinckley.

Each of you has the opportunity to bless so many others this season and this coming up year. If you turn to Heavenly Father for guidance, He will help you to know what to do and what to say to make a significant impact on others.

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I hope you feel the spirit of Christ's wonderful, magnificent birth and have the chance to share it with your kids, your coworkers, and the lady you meet at the check out stand. Even the people here at the MTC I have seen sometimes need just a smile and someone to acknowledge them. Let Heavenly Father help you. Let the Spirit speak to you. Merry Christmas from Utah to wherever you are out there, and a happy new year!

Hermana Hunt